-->
The Austrian
epic black metal duo, Summoning, recently released their first full-length
effort since 2006 with Old Mornings Dawn
(Napalm Records). The wait was certainly worth it. I never would
have guessed that a band could devote so many tracks to the mythos of Middle
Earth, but seven albums deep in their sonic tribute to Tolkien, Protector and
Silenius show no signs of stopping. And while Old Mornings Dawn may not achieve the revered status of Minas Morgul (1995) or Dol Guldur (1996), one can hardly say
that the quality has dropped since the mid ‘90s. As soon as the intro
track, “Evernight,” begins, whispers from an enchanted realm whisk the listener
away to a land of pure fantasy. The steady, building instrumentals that
ensue solidify this musical escape. Unlike intro pieces that seem only to
serve as filler (here’s looking at you Cradle of Filth), “Evernight” sets the
stage for the album’s soundscapes, dragging the listener into an epic journey.
Not even the most reluctant Bilbo Baggins could resist!
Now, let’s get into the meat of the recording. After the first two
tracks, not a single song runs under 8 minutes in length. This provides
space for dynamic movements within each song that enhance the epic quality of
the album. That said, all tracks stay below the 10-minute mark, ensuring
that the songs don’t become stale and bore the listener. The true
strength of these tracks and the album as a whole is the pacing. The
percussion conveys a Celtic flair, spiriting the listener to distant times.
The rhythms and melodies possess a medieval tone that bestows an aura of
chivalric high adventure. Keeping the album on course, distorted guitar
rhythms carry and propel the pace of this fantastic journey. When
listening to Old Mornings Dawn, you
don’t simply bob your head to the heavy riffage; you undulate your entire body
as if riding a steed into glorious battle. In addition, Summoning
displays a great instinct for transition. Heavy rhythmic progressions
flow naturally into haunting melodic interludes, and complex tapestries of
instrumentation seamlessly unravel to emphasize singular elements.
Overall, the album is majestic in the truest sense of the word. Plucked
melodies and rolling synthetic soundscapes combine to forge an atmosphere of
grim austerity. The vocals are strong as well. Drenched in reverb,
they evoke dusky caverns of longing, employing a deft compromise between a
shriek and a growl. Also, spoken word vocals enhance the narrative
quality of the recording. Highlights include the titular track, with the
somber nobility of its synthetic organs, and “Caradhras,” with the layered
ascent of its introductory passage. The album does lose steam with the
last three tracks, but this is likely due to the high quality of the first slew
of songs more than to overt shortcomings in the concluding pieces.
Nevertheless, it would have been nice to see the same level of epic grandeur
maintained. I honestly don’t have many criticisms for this album, but I’ll
offer a few cautions. This is metal of the slower variety and may not be
appealing to fans of rapid-fire beats. Also, the sound is highly
synthetic and likely won’t please those who prefer to listen to ‘real’
instruments. Finally, Summoning crafts a fantasy atmosphere, and thus
their style may not interest those who like their content grounded in reality.
Score: 8/10
No comments:
Post a Comment